Accelerator



Patented Feb, 19, 1924,

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Application filed June '7,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK B. QUAoKnN- BOSS and JOHN A. NnALn, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Accelerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an accelerator for dry pipe valves.

As is well known, dry pipe valves are used principally in connection with automatic fire extinguishers, such as the sprinkler type, said valves operating in conjunction with compressed air, the pressure of air maintaining the valve in its closed position, and whenever the air decreases to a predetermined degree the valve is opened.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device by which the opening of the dry pipe valve may be accelerated or quickened simultaneously with the decrease of air pressure.

It is also an object of the invention that the accelerator be positive and reliable in its operation.

Other objects and objects relating to details/oi construction, combination and ar rangement of parts will hereinafter appear in the detailed description to follow.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing our invention when applied,

Figure 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the accelerator,

Figure 3 is a plan view or the same with the top removed.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, indicates generally a dry pipe valve to one end of which there is connected an outlet pipe 10 and the other end an inlet pipe 11. The outlet pipe 10 is in turn connected with a plurality of inter-communicating pipes which form a fire extinguishing. system and the pipe 11 is connected with a suitable source of water supply. In the pipe 10 there is maintained a predetermined air pressure by which means the valve A is enabled to retain a closure between the pipes 10 and 11. v

In order to accelerate the opening of the valve A when the pressure in the pipe 10 decreases, we provide a tank as generally in- 1921. Serial No. 475,78

dicated at 12 and which may be suitably supported in the position shown in Figure 1. A. suitable cover 153. is provided for the tank, and also said tank is reduced in cross section at its lower end as shown at 14:.

" A partition wall 15 is formed withthe tank dividing the same into two chambers 17 and 18, and said partition wall having its lower end in spaced relation with the bottom of the tank, as shown at 16. Also this wall is formed with a miniature orifice as shown at 19. With the chamber 17 there communicates an induction pipe 20 and an eduction pipe 21. The pipe 20 communicates with the pipe 10, w iile the pipe 21 is extended by the sections as indicated at 22, andv said sections in turn communicating with the atmosphere through the L-fitti'ng 23. Formed on the interior of the chambers 17 and in alinement with the pipe 21 is a short tubular extension 2 1. At the outer side of the'compartment 17 there is jour naled in its side walls a shaft 25 upon which there is secured apairo collars 26, said' collars hemp; eachformed with an extens on arm 27. The extension arms 27 are bent downwardly at 28, and at their outer ends j secured to a float member 29. Between the arms 27 near their pivotedends there ex tends across member 30, said member in turn carrying on its lower facea washer as indicated at 31. When the arms 27 are lowered as shown in Figure 2, said washer is adapted to close the outlet pipe 21.

Within the tank 14 there is placed a quantity of mercury as shown at 32. The mercury may pass between the chambers 17 and- 18 beneath the division wall 15, and is suiiicient in quantity to normally permit the float 29 to remain in position for closing the outletpipe 21. this position as long as the pressure existing in the chambers 17 and 18 are equal.

The operation of the present device is as follows; When the system of pipes which inter-communicate with the pipe 10 are That is, the float will remain-in rupturechand air pressure in the pipe 10 is destroyed, or otherwise the air pressure in the pipe lObegins to decrease, and then the existing pressure in the chamber 17 will likewise decrease. The decrease of pressure" in the chamber 17 will naturally become very rapid and due to the fact that the orifice 19 forms the only communication be-' tween this chamber 17 and 18, thepressure v in the chamber 18 cannot equalize itself with a'rapid fall of pressure in the chamber 17. The pressure in the chamber 18 then being the greatest the mercury therein will be partly drawn into chamber 17 and hence the float 29 will beraised, which in turn will open the pipe 21. The pipe 21 being in communication with the atmosphere will. permit the direct communication of the pipe 10 with the atmosphere, and in this way the decrease of pressure in the pipe 10 will be quickened or accelerated, and thereby the opening of the ,valve A to permit water to flow into the pipe 10 will likewise be quickened or accelerated.

-While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, we wish it to be understood. that we are aware of the fact that the general construction, combination and arrangement of parts might be changed by those skilled in the art without departing tromthe spirit of our invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

We claim 1. An accelerator of the class described.

'con'iprising in combination, a closed tank, a

division wall .for dividing said tank into two compartments, said division wall being arranged to terminate in spaced relation with the bottom of said tank, and said division. wall having a restricted orifice a.d a-

cent its upper end, a body of liquid within thetank and the level of said liquid being above the lower end of the division wall and one of said compartments being propressure in the two compartments becomes unbalanced.

2. An accelerator of the class described,

comprising in combination, a closed tank,

mally close the outlet communicating with; the atmosphere, and float means adapted to. operate said valve for opening the, pipe communicating with the atmosphere when the air pressure in the two chambers becomes unbalanced.

3. In an accelerator of the class described, comprisng in combination, a closed tank, a division wall therefor dividing said tank into two compartments, said division wall having an orifice formed near its upper end, and a passage at its lower end by which the bottoms of the two chambers are in communication, an inlet and outlet for one of said chambers, said inlet communicating with a source of oompressed air and said outlet communicating with the atmosphere, aflapv valve. adapted to normally, close the outlet, a quantity of liquid in the.

bottom of the tank adapted to seal thepassage between the two chambers, and. float means by which the flap valvemay be;

raised, and by which the flap valve maybe lifted when the air pressure in the cham-.. bers becomes unbalanced.

FRANK B. QUACKENBOSS. JOHN A..NEALE. 

